2017 57th Annual Derby Sponsorship Opportunities

For more than five decades the Ice Fishing Derby and Winter Festival held on the Chain O’ Lakes has been our major fund raiser and is the longest continuously run winter event in the State of Illinois. February 11 & 12, 2017 will mark our 57th Ice Fishing Derby and Winter Festival!

This festival is more than just ice fishing, it brings families together and provides fun for everyone. We have third generation fisherman – grandfathers bringing their sons and grandsons to this yearly event. Our founding fathers, William Brook and Dick Waters, would be pleased to see these families continued excitement and enjoyment of this event.

The Northern Illinois Conservation Club was established in 1960 by a group of sportsmen and persons interested in outdoor activities. They joined together to encourage education, conservation and preservation of wildlife and their habitat. They were concerned about the deterioration of the environment, ignorance of natural resources and the lack of hunter safety. With this, they determined the need for education of hunters, fishermen, boaters and campers of all ages.

As the Northern Illinois Conservation Club is a not-for-profit*, privately funded organization, funds come from member’s dues, fund-raising activities and donations. Our educational programs on various conservation, wildlife and preservation subjects are open to the public, at no charge.

The Northern Illinois Conservation Club exists today due to the support of so many. That support is how we are able to continue our 56 year mission. Funds raised at this event allow us to continue the work of our founding fathers by providing scholarships to local area high school students, education programs on various safety, conservation, wildlife and preservation subjects, a location for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to earn badges and learn more about the outdoors, and a wildlife habitat for so many displaced wildlife in the Antioch area.